T he fhip glided on toward the fhore, almofl: infenfibly, until
the land-breeze reached us, fcented with the delicious fragrance
of odorous trees and flowering fhrubs. We then fell to the
eaftward, to Wait for a current, which fets in the morning. The
night was ftill and clear. The moon, in its wane, gleamed on
the waves and mountains. The coafl: was fpangled with lights
from the houfes, which were over-topped by that of the Pharos.
We could hear diftindtly at intervals the bells of the churches
and convents, which founded fweetly foft and penfive. Early
the next day we came to an anchor in the port.
ff i if:
A n Italian proverb affirms, that the Genoefe have fea without
fi/h. However, the great demand for that article of diet occa-
flons it to be continually harrafled. We had frequent opportunities
of feeing the method of fiflaing within the mole. Several
Seines are united and extended in the water fo as to form a large
femicircle, but much curved at the two extremities. The men
then retire to fome diftance, and begin clattering with flicks or
hammers on the fides of their boats s the noife, as is obferved
of thunder, making the fiffi rife. One man, who is ftationed on
the yard-arm of a fhip, takes notice which way they fwim, and
gives diredtions, until they are within the net, when they are
driven toward the ends, and are foon entangled, or trying from
defpair to leap over, fall on a wing, which is faftened to long
reeds, and kept floating horizontally, on the furface of the
water. The reward of much toil was now and then a few grey-
mullet. The Thynnus or tunny-fifh was antiently, and is now,
taken in this manner, but in fhoals, which endanger and often
break the nets.
W e tarried at Genoa until the twenty fifth of July, delighted
with the magnificent churches, the marble palaces, the pieces
of excellent fculpture, and the many noble pictures, which
adorn fo profufely that admired city. We then weighed anchor
and got out of the mole in the night. On the fecond day we
pafled
7
pafled the ifland Gourgona, by which were many fail of fmall-
craft fifhing under fhore for anchovies. We were becalmed all
night about three leagues from Leghorn, but the next afternoon
moored within the mole.
W e had been advifed to carry with us money for our journey
in crown-pieces of filver called imperial tallerie, from Leghorn.
Mr. Rutherfurd, an E-nglifh merchant, accepted our bills on a
banker in London j and on our arriyal at Smyrna we found that
we gained more than five per cent- on the money we had imported,
not including infurance, freight, and confulage, which
by the Anglicana would have amounted to about two per cent.
and chat drawing on Leghorn from Smyrna would be nine and a
half percent, better, according to the.then exchange, than drawing
directly from Smyrna on London, exclufive of the before-
mentioned expenees.
C H A P . I l l -
"Bail from Leghorn— In the Archipelago — Ruin o f an antient:
temple on Sunium — Pa/s Smyrna — Enter the Hellefpont |
Arrive at the inner c aft les — Quit the fthip.-
W E were detained fome days at Leghorn by foul weather,,
the wind fouth, with thunder, lightening,, and rain; the air
thick and hazy. Some fhips, which had put to fea, were forced
back again. On the tenth of Auguft we got out of the mole
into the road, and early next morning fet fail with a light and
pleafant breeze. In. the evening we were becalmed on the call:
fide of the ifland Cabrera, in view of a fiihing town. A briflc
gale with rain ilfued from clouds refting on the mountains. A
calm then followed, after which the wind veered about every
moment. We had now left Monte Chrift aftern. In the afternoon
it thundered, and a moft violent fquall overtook us, with
rain,-